Tuesday, May 19, 2009

After a week of teasing, slow contractions, Adrian arrived with sudden and surprising alacrity. There is a long story about Emily’s induction being pushed back and back and back and the room being unavailable, then available, then unavailable, and finally available for good. The story also introduces Backpacking Dad’s delivery room snack regimen, the Irish nurse from Belfast, the room next door to the one Erin was delivered in, and lots of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares streaming over the free wifi the hospital offered.

But I won’t tell that story. I keep looking for something funny and all I end up with is something amazing.

My son, Adrian Cashel Burns, was born at 8:44pm on May 16th, 2009. He was over a pound heavier than his sister, but scored lower on his Apgars. His feet and hands were less wrinkled rubber than his sister’s, but so was his head less hairy. And that’s all the comparing I want to do between Adrian and Erin. Erin has been stunning me for two years, and I don’t want to water that down; Adrian has been stunning me for two days, and I don’t want to treat him as Second and only Second.

He sounds like a kitten when he cries.

He slept in the crook of my arm for part of his first night in the world.

His diapers are so small; his pants are so big.

Erin loves him already. She assures us that he’s sleeping, assures him that “It’s okay, Adrian,” and keeps trying to grab his face so she can look at it.

I just got told about your blog this afternoon. So this perfect and lovely post about the birth of your son was the first post of yours I ever read. And then I went on to scroll back through the last year of this blog, while my kids watched an hour and half of Phinneas and Ferb (clever, clever show). And what I have to say is this: You are really, really good. And also this: The way you write inspires me to be a better writer. So truly, thanks for sharing.Jenniferthesearedaystx@gmail.com

Congratulations on a beautiful baby boy!Hope you and your wife manage to get some sleep! It's a lot harder with a toddler saying "mummy don't sleep!" when you just want to nap on the couch because the baby's been up 5 times in the night.... Sigh

Adrian looks so big! Even his fingers and toes look huge to me. :-) We just had a five pounder in my family, so maybe it's that...or maybe you've got a son who's going to be playing some serious hockey.

congrats, BPD! a son and a daughter... it's difficult to rival the blessed-ness. wow. he is perfect, and i hope you're all enjoying these magical days. my first son, my Levi, was also born on 5/16 (2001). It's a good day to be born. blessings to each of you.